Friday, 27 November 2015

Hi Everyone, No blog today I'm afraid as I've run out of time...I'm jetting off to Scotland for the weekend to see a dear friend who's having a bit of a rough time at the moment. I do have just a few moments to remind everyone that I will be doing 3 more Stampbord shows for Hochanda TV, Home of Crafts, Hobbies and Arts, next Wednesday (2nd December 2015). So do please tune in if you can. I believe the shows will be at 10am, 2pm and 6pm (but don't quote me on that as they are still to be confirmed).Here's some projects you may have seen if you tuned into the earlier shows...

And here's a little teaser of the latest projects I've done in preparation for the show. (Some you will see are not quite complete yet but hopefully will be before the show!) Downloadable project sheets will follow shortly..

Many of these use techniques I've not demonstrated on the tv shows so far so do try and tune in or set your boxes to record... :)

Friday, 20 November 2015

I've done 2 days of Stampbord Shows on Hochanda TV now which have been fun if a little last minute! I remember buying Stampbord years ago, having a play with it and then tucking it away until I had some really special project to do as I didn't want to waste such a precious resource. I'm so pleased that now, 7 years later, Stampbord has made it back to these shores and at almost half the price it used to be!I've not had a lot of time to renew my acquaintance with Stampbord yet but what little time I have had has reminded me what a fabulous product it is. Developed by Ampersand Art Supply this incredible art and craft surface allows clean, perfect rubber stamp impressions every time and is correctable and erasable. It has so many uses including jewellery, customising boxes, magnets, altered art, ornaments, card toppers, embellishments and even scrapbooking as it is acid free. The ultra-smooth clay finish accepts all types of inks and no matter how wet you get it it will never warp or buckle. The clay surface also allows you to scratch back into your designs to create highlights and texture which is something you can't do on ordinary cardstock.So here's the first new project using Stampbord...

Step 3. Use the scraper tools to scratch some of the inks away creating brighter highlights on the flowers and leaves.

Step 4. Colour the dots of the stamped image with the gold Shake Graph'It pen.

Step 5. Add dots of silver glitter to the centres of the stars.

Top Tip: If your stamp smudges or your ink bleeds over a line when colouring you can always scratch away imperfections with the scraper tools.

Step 6. Repeat Steps 1-5 for another square piece of Stampbord and two ATC pieces. nb. You will have to stamp the image twice on the larger pieces of Stampbord.

At this point you can take the easy option of covering all the Stampbord elements with separate pieces of card or alternatively you could paint them with acrylic paint before you glue them together using Super Glue.Alternatively, you can use one piece of card to join all the sides together before sticking them to the base...

Step 7. Stick a Stampbord square in the corner of the card, making sure that the base of the stamped image is at the edge of the card. Cut the card along the top of the Stampbord piece & score down the side. Fold the card along the score line & stick an ATC Stampbord piece aligned with the front edge of the square.

Step 8. Move the pieces to the edge of your table so you can lay the ATC flat on your cutting mat. Lay another square beside the ATC and cut around the exposed areas of card around the ATC piece.

Step 9. Lay the ATC face down and, using a square piece as a guide, cut along the top edge and score the card down the inside edge.

Step 10. Fold the card along the scoreline. Stick the square Stampbord along the scoreline level with the end of the ATC piece.

Step 11. Again wrap the pieces around the edge of the table so that you can cut along the top of the square piece and score down the side. Stick the last ATC piece in position using a ruler to help line it up along the bottom edge. Cut around it to remove the excess card.

Step 12. Lay the last ATC piece face down and position the first square level with the end. Cut the card on the back of the ATC piece around the top and inside edge of the square.

Step 13. Carefully remove the excess strip of card on the back of the ATC piece.

Step 14. Use Super Glue to stick the edges of the Stampbord together.

Step 15. Use more Super Glue to stick the sides of the pot to the ATC base.There's lots more inspiration for working with Stampbord available all over the worldwide web including YouTube and Pinterest. Here are a few links to get you started...The Stampbord website has inspiration and how-to features:http://www.stampbord.com/idea-gallery.htmlThe official Facebook page for Stampbord:https://www.facebook.com/stampbordfans/info/The Projects4Crafters Stampbord Pinterest board:https://www.pinterest.com/projects4craft/stampbord/Stampscapes Stampbord YouTube Videos:https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stampscapes+stampbord

Friday, 13 November 2015

Well, it may be a week later than expected due to a last minute request to do some Stampbord shows for Hochanda TV but there is still time if you fancy creating your own advent calendar...

You may remember last year's was a felt wall hanging calendar which I created for my youngest nephew Ben (and which I have been asked for again this year...what a surprise, not!) It seems that although he's now football crazy he still has a little time left for Lego, lol!Well this year I've decided to go for something a little different...

A Christmas Wish Advent Calendar

I don't think the photo really does it justice but hopefully you'll get the idea. I've created it using Efco's Star box which comes full of 24 mini star boxes - just perfect for decorating as your own personalised advent calendar. Advent calendars in my day only ever had 24 windows to open as Christmas Day was when you got all your wonderful pressies but these days so many of them seem to have 25. So, if you wanted, you could always use the large box as number 25!Materials needed:Papp Art Star Box Set (Efco Art no: 26 346 16)Light Relief Paste (Efco Art no: 93 162 21)White Decoupaint (Efco Art no: 93 164 01)White Rose Napkins (Efco Art no: 16 608 45)Matt Mod Podge (Efco Art no: 62 113 05)Yellow & Gold Acrylic PaintBrushes & Palette Knife Baby wipes & Soft Brush e.g. old blusher brushCraft Knife & PVA GlueUltra fine Mother of Pearl Glitter (Efco Art no: 91 101 01)Advent Numbers - I used my Silhouette to cut letters from gold foil and chipboard but you can use whatever you likeWords for the lid - Again I used my Silhouette to cut letters out of chipboard.

Step 1. Remove the back two layers from some napkins and place on one side.

Step 2. Decoupage the sides of a small star box with the top layer of a napkin. Align the edge of the napkin with the top edge of the box and use mat Mod Podge to stick in place.

Step 3. Use a wet brush to create a torn edge, removing the excess napkin from the side and bottom. But do leave a little excess to overlap on the side of the box and wrap around the base.

Step 4. Cover the napkin with a layer of mat Mod Podge to seal it and make sure that all the edges are stuck down. Leave to dry.Repeat Steps 2-4 for all the other small boxes.

Step 5. Mix Light Relief Paste with some white Decoupaint (2:1).

Step 6. Use a palette knife to roughly spread the mixed paste over the box lids. You want to use just enough paste to block out the brown of the papier maché. Whilst it's still wet sprinkle a little ultra fine glitter in patches over the top and embed a number in the middle. (I cut numbers from thin chipboard and sticky backed gold foil using my latest toy...my Silhouette cutter.) :) Leave to dry.

Step 7. Mix up more paste if necessary and then cover the large star box lid in the same way. Do the edges first so that you can sprinkle a little ultra fine glitter over them before covering the top. Leave to dry.

Step 8. You can decorate the top however you wish. I chose to cut 'When you wish upon a star...' from some more thin chipboard using my Silhouette cutter which I then covered with some more paste and glitter and left to dry.

Step 9. Cut another napkin in strips and use them to cover the edges of the big star box base.

Step 10. When the big box lid is dry (you can speed this up with a hairdryer) use a baby wipe to apply some yellow acrylic in swirly patterns. It will dry very quickly as it is such a thin layer of paint. When dry, use another baby wipe to apply some gold paint over the top. Leave to dry.

Step 11. I used PVA glue to stick the decorated chipboard letters in position on the box lid. I added a little more sparkle by applying more PVA glue in a swirl, following the line of the words, and then covering it with more ultra fine glitter.When everything is dry brush off the excess glitter from all the boxes using a soft brush e.g. an old blusher brush.Then all that's left is to fill the little boxes with sweeties, chocolates or little gifts...

I had planned to publish this post this morning but my day went a little haywire with builders, deliveries, a skip removal, and tree surgeons who came to prune our poor neglected apple tree. Anyway I got there in the end and I hope you like this year's advent calendar!Happy Crafting!

Friday, 6 November 2015

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe bonfire's night with spectacular fireworks! This week I've decided to share some more Efcolor ideas with everyone...Firstly, I discovered some colour combinations live on air on Hochanda tv that I have never tried before:

Mixing coloured transparent Efcolor powders

The photo's not great but hopefully it shows that you can get a rather gorgeous purple by mixing blue and red transparent.

Mixing clear transparent with opaque black powder

I have covered glitter powders with coloured transparent before to achieve a subtle 'bling' but covering turquoise glitter with clear transparent and random 'splodges' of opaque black gave a star-like or universe effect. (Again the photo doesn't show it's true glory sorry!)

Coloured Transparent combined with Rubber Stamping

I have always covered rubber stamped images with clear transparent but have never thought to use some of the coloured transparent instead. btw Efco's texture mats are ideal for creating stamped images on pendants too. (Image: Paisley texture mat stamped with black Staz-on covered with red transparent.)Secondly, you can enamel papier maché as Efco's Efcolor powders only need 150ºC to melt which is cool enough for both Efco's Papp Art and also thin layers of acrylic paint whether they are painted straight onto the papier maché or onto basecoats of enamel.

Paris Papier Maché

Materials needed:Efco Paris Papp ArtBlack acrylic paintBlack & Gold Efcolor PowdersClear Flat-backed Swarovski Crystals (3, 4 & 5 mm)Tweezers & Paint BrushEfcolor Stove or Kitchen OvenOptional: Varnish(The Papp Art is a little too big for the stove but it can still be heated on it without the lid being used, it just takes a little longer.)

1. Paint the edges of the Papp Art with black acrylic paint and leave to dry.

2. Cover the papp art with black Efcolor powder and heat until it is melted.

3. When cool, cover the papp art with another layer of black Efcolor powder and patches of gold. Position crystals in the powder before placing it back on the heat to melt.

4. When cool, paint the back of the papp art with more black acrylic. If desired, you can coat the edges and back with varnish to protect the painted areas. Et voila! A quick and easy project.Happy crafting!

About Me

I'm a firm believer, especially with today's busy lifestyles, in the
therapeutic effect of being creative. I know that everyone has the
ability to be creative in some form or other, it's just a question of
having the confidence to have a go... as Edwin Land said "An essential
aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail".
Hopefully this blog will inspire others to find their creativity!